Painting Successful Watercolours From Photographs

Learn the essential techniques for painting from photographs with this illustrated guide by the acclaimed artist and teacher. Many artists enjoy using photographic reference material, but while there are many advantages to this way of working, there are also unique challenges. One must learn to choose what to leave out, what to keep in, and how to adapt the scene to create a painting. In this book, Geoff Kersey introduces twenty-seven of his own paintings, explaining how they evolved from one or more photographs. Kersey includes photographs, sketches, diagrams, details, colour charts and a wealth of tips explaining his techniques and artistic process. This volume also includes a glossary of painting terms as well as photographs for readers to interpret for themselves.

Painting on canvas poses many exciting opportunities for the artist. Along with the immediacy, vibrancy and unpredictability of watercolours, it is a liberating and creative process. This practical book explains how to start painting with watercolours on canvas and goes on to encourage new style and experimentation. It gives step-by-step demonstrations on different techniques to achieve loose, dynamic images. It is a beautiful and passionate account of how to work on a non-traditional surface to achieve striking and innovative paintings. It covers; advice on selecting and preparing canvases to accept watercolour; ways to adapt your materials and working process to canvases; step-by-step demonstrations on different techniques to achieve loose, dynamic images; Ideas for experimentation, both in style and subject, and stunning, finished images to inspire; A beautiful book that shows how to paint with watercolour on canvas to achieve bold, stunning results. Of great interest to all artists and craftsmen, it is superbly illustrated with 149 colour photographs. Liz Chaderton is a professional watercolour artist and specializes in painting animals.

Choosing a good photograph, transforming problem photos into strong paintings.

The master watercolourist shares essential techniques for adding depth and realism to your watercolour paintings in this accessible guide. In Perspective Depth and Distance, watercolourist and teacher Geoff Kersey demonstrates how to use line, tone, colour, and detail to create captivating landscapes. With this practical guide, you will learn to capture the beauty of mist-draped mountains and dense woodlands. You will also learn to paint boats, buildings, and natural features that seem to recede into the distance. This volume includes seven step-by-step projects with inspiration and ideas for your own original landscapes. It also features techniques for linear and aerial perspective.

David Curtis is one of the most successful and celebrated artists working in the UK today. His books are bestsellers and in his latest book he discusses and demonstrates his approach to painting outside on location. He paints on site whenever possible as he finds that working directly from the subject gives his work a sense of immediacy, dynamism, light and drama. Many artists are interested in painting outside but lack the confidence to successfully work in this way. Here David shows how to develop the necessary skills. He looks at every aspect, from preliminary planning to appropriate painting techniques and, above all, how to capture the essence of the scene in front of you. He includes location sketching as well as advice on essential equipment to take with you. With practical advice and inspirational paintings covering a wide variety of subjects, Painting on Location will prove valuable to all those who wish to paint outdoors, whether to make finished paintings in their own right on location, or to use the experience and information gathered as a basis for further work in the studio.

Bestselling artist and writer Hazel Soan has distilled her art teaching into the things that matter most and can be digested in a short period of time – in just one afternoon you can start painting. Learning to paint is one of the life-long aspirations of many of us, and these techniques can be picked up faster than you think. Hazel Soan's concise book, filled with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step exercises, is written in an accessible way for those completely new to painting. Chapters include: Getting Started (the materials you will need and those you can ignore in the art shop); Choice of Colours; Mixing Colours; What's the Subject?; What Surfaces to Paint on; Basic Painting Techniques; Brushstrokes and Composition (with details on how to design paintings with horizon, focus and balance, a hint of perspective and the light and shade of a subject). Packed with illustrations for guidance, this is the most comprehensive guide to learning watercolour very quickly.